© Slovak Post, 2006 In the past carol singing was an intrinsic part of the Christmas tradition. Various types of well-wishing and carol singing usually took place on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, St. Stephen's Day (26 December), and Epiphany. Children and adults alike visited their relatives and neighbours singing Christmas songs and carols and wishing them health, happiness, and good financial tidings for the year. Bethlehem-themed plays were a specific form of carol singing. These acted stories complemented the atmosphere of Christmas by depicting the annunciation of the birth of Christ enriched with scenes from the lives of shepherds. Young boys gave these performances from door to door throughout the whole village. The most popular Epiphany play was “Walking with a Star” which illustrated the biblical Three Wise Men with a person carrying a star or with an angel. When walking around the village, psalms and recitations were accompanied by carol singing, as well as cheerful and humorous pastoral and folk songs. Such activities were by a request for a reward such as apples, nuts, and cakes or money. Often the poorer classes went carol singing to earn a little money for Christmas. The main reason for carol singing nowadays is to socialise and entertain, its ritual function having weakened or disappeared completely. The stamp depicts characters from the play “Walking with a Star”. Zora Valentov